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From dragons and magical fish, to enchanted trees and spectral horses, storyteller Amanda Kane-Smith brings the landscape of Test Valley in Hampshire to life with folk tales and local legends. Accompanied with music by Paul Sartin and traditional Hampshire Dance tunes of the Pyle Family manuscript
Episodes
Wednesday Mar 16, 2022
Wednesday Mar 16, 2022
This episode's Test Valley Tale is a spookily magical tale. It’s a mash up of a local ghost sighting of a horse drawn carriage on New Year’s Eve and an Aesop’s fable - ‘The Horse, Hunter and Stag’. I wanted to create an origin story for the ghost sighting. And as Wellow sits by the edge of the New Forest, I thought it would be fun to connect the horse drawn carriage with the New Forest ponies.
The story takes place during a cold Winter, food is sparse and so the horses are forced to share their food on the common with the deer, who usually stay hidden in the forest. Two horses, Sundew and Bracken, begrudge sharing their food and so when a human stranger appears, and offers to fetch his bow and arrow, the two horses enter into a pact which ultimately leads to their demise.
This story is set on Canada Common, just outside the village of Wellow which on the edge of the New Forest.
After the story, I share some local folklore and interview Clare Young who owns two beautiful horses Bree and Tallulah. We discuss animal behaviour, New Forest Ponies and how our well-being can benefit from engaging with animals.
This episode is accompanied with music by renowned folk musician Paul Sartin.
'Test Valley Tales' is an Arts Council Funded project and one of Test Valley Arts Foundation's Borough of Culture Legacy Projects. All the stories are set in the beautiful landscape of Test Valley which is in Hampshire in England.
There is also an illustrated book of the all the stories which accompanies this podcast. This is available from my website. Please see link below.
Hope you enjoy it!
Story written by Amanda Kane-Smith, based on a local ghost sighting and the Aesop’s fable ‘The Horse, Hunter and Stag.’
Podcast produced by Miles Kane-Smith.
Music by Paul Sartin recorded at WildGoose Records in Wherwell.
Test Valley Tales can be found on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter as @testvalleytales.
For more information, please go to:
Tuesday Jan 04, 2022
Tuesday Jan 04, 2022
This episode's Test Valley Tale is a magical tale with environmental themes and is perfect listening for folktale lovers young and old.
One morning when Tom the miller goes to collect wood for his fire, he finds himself in a strange new world where trees can talk and a water nixie gives him a gift of an enchanted flute. Having begun so well, will Tom continue to make the right decisions to live in harmony with nature. And will he remember the Water Nixie’s warning - never to use the flute for anything that goes against nature?
This story is set at Sadler’s Mill in Romsey and is based on an Estonian folk tale called ‘Mikku and the trees’. My inclusion of a water nixie in this story is a nod to the Brothers Grimm.
After the story, I take a walk from Sadler’s Mill to the centre of Romsey and share some of the facts and folklore I learnt while researching the story along the way.
This episode is accompanied with music by renowned folk musician Paul Sartin.
'Test Valley Tales' is an Arts Council Funded project and one of Test Valley Arts Foundation's Borough of Culture Legacy Projects. All the stories are set in the beautiful landscape of Test Valley which is in Hampshire in England.
There is also an illustrated book of the all the stories which accompanies this podcast. This is available from my website. Please see link below.
Hope you enjoy it!
Story written by Amanda Kane-Smith, based on an Estonian folk tale.
Podcast produced by Miles Kane-Smith.
Music by Paul Sartin recorded at WildGoose Records in Wherwell.
Test Valley Tales can be found on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter as @testvalleytales.
For more information, please go to:
Friday Nov 26, 2021
Friday Nov 26, 2021
This episode's Test Valley Tale is a magical wish story.
As Mary makes her weekly trip along the Sprat and Winkle Railway line from Stockbridge to Mottisfont, she encounters a fish on a bridge! This is when things take a turn for the magical as the fish offers her a wish. Just one wish.
What will Mary wish for?
‘The Magical Fish of Mottisfont’ is my version of a traditional tale called ‘The Clever Wish’ or ‘The Wise Wish’. Sometimes the wish giver is a deer and in some versions, it can even be a unicorn! I thought here in Test Valley, with our beautiful chalk rivers and streams, the wish giver should be a trout!
After the story, there is an interview with two amazing children – Rosa who is 10 and Owen who is 12. I was so impressed with their knowledge and enthusiasm for the natural world, that I think this interview really illustrates the idea behind Test Valley Tales, and that is to encourage people to get out and explore where we live and rediscover it’s magical places through its stories.
As David Attenborough says:
“No one will protect what they don't care about, and no one will care about what they have never experienced”
The episode is accompanied with music by renowned folk musician Paul Sartin and Hampshire Country Dance Tunes from the Pyle family manuscript of 1822, recorded at WildGoose Records in Wherwell.
This story is part of Test Valley Tales.
'Test Valley Tales' is an Arts Council Funded project and one of Test Valley Arts Foundation's Borough of Culture Legacy Projects. All the stories are set in the beautiful landscape of Test Valley which is in Hampshire in England.
There is also an illustrated book of the all the stories which accompanies this podcast. This is available from my website. Please see link below.
Hope you enjoy it!
Story written by Amanda Kane-Smith, based on a traditional Irish folk tale.
Podcast produced by Miles Kane-Smith.
Music by Paul Sartin recorded at WildGoose Records in Wherwell.
Test Valley Tales can be found on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter as @testvalleytales.
For more information please go to:
Wednesday Nov 10, 2021
Wednesday Nov 10, 2021
This is a magical tale of love and tragedy, set in one of Test Valley’s beautiful chalk rivers.
Isolda and Benen discover their shared love for each other and the natural world and plan to get married. When tragedy strikes, however, a legend is created and ultimately tested by someone who has lost his belief in magic.
This is my adaptation of ‘The White Trout’ which originates in Ireland. My version is written for the beautiful location of Stockbridge in Test Valley in Hampshire.
After the story, I interview Maggie Shelton, from Watercress and Winterbournes, and learn about how these beautiful habitats were created, and how we can get involved and help protect them for the future.
The episode is accompanied with music by renowned folk musician Paul Sartin and Hampshire Country Dance Tunes from the Pyle family manuscript of 1822, recorded at WildGoose Records in Wherwell.
This story is part of Test Valley Tales.
'Test Valley Tales' is an Arts Council Funded project and one of Test Valley Arts Foundation's Borough of Culture Legacy Projects. All the stories are set in the beautiful landscape of Test Valley which is in Hampshire in England.
There is also an illustrated book of the all the stories which accompanies this podcast. This is available from my website. Please see link below.
Hope you enjoy it!
Story written by Amanda Kane-Smith, based on a traditional Irish folk tale.
Podcast produced by Miles Kane-Smith.
Music by Paul Sartin recorded at WildGoose Records in Wherwell.
Test Valley Tales can be found on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter as @testvalleytales.
For more information please go to:
Thursday Oct 28, 2021
Thursday Oct 28, 2021
Set in one of Hampshire's most famous landmarks: the Iron Age Hillfort of Danebury Hill, this week's episode is a magical story which brings to life the wood which circles the fort.
The story takes place in the 16th century when a Royal Charter was granted for Danebury to be used as a site for a rural fair, on a very hot day in late July, as John the farm labourer had just finished work having been given the afternoon off to go to the fair.
Little did he suspect the strange and unusual things that were about to happen to him …
This is a perfect story for all the family
After the story, I chat with Peter Norton from The Ancient Yew Group who tells me some fascinating facts about amazing Yew trees!
The episode is accompanied with music by renowned folk musician Paul Sartin and Hampshire Country Dance Tunes from the Pyle family manuscript of 1822.
This story is part of Test Valley Tales.
'Test Valley Tales' is an Arts Council Funded project and one of Test Valley Arts Foundation's Borough of Culture Legacy Projects. All the stories are set in the beautiful landscape of Test Valley which is in Hampshire in England.
There is also an illustrated book of the all the stories which accompanies this podcast. This is available from my website. Please see link below.
Hope you enjoy it!
Story written by Amanda Kane-Smith, based on a traditional English folk tale.
Podcast produced by Miles Kane-Smith.
Music by Paul Sartin recorded at WildGoose Records in Wherwell.
Test Valley Tales can be found on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter as @testvalleytales.
For more information please go to:
Wednesday Oct 06, 2021
Wednesday Oct 06, 2021
In this episode I tell one of Hampshire's most famous stories. And best of all it's about a dragon!
With the head of a cockerel and the tail of a serpent, this type of dragon is known as a cockatrice, and this one caused chaos in the little village of Wherwell about 400 years ago... or so they say.
This is a great story for all the family and I have also created a cockatrice puppet template which can be downloaded from my website and used to join in with the storytelling. (See below).
After the story, I chat with Kenton Clarke-Williams from the Andover Museum who tells me some fascinating facts about the story and how it links with the history of Wherwell.
This episode has an added bonus at the end, as I have been lucky enough to be given permission to include a song recorded back in 1995 by the children of Wherwell Primary School. This was part of a project organised by musician Roger Watson in collaboration with Chilean musician Mauricio Venegas-Astorga. The song is called 'The Wherwell Cockatrice'.
The episode is accompanied with music by renowned folk musician Paul Sartin who took his inspiration for this episodes story theme from this song.
This story is part of Test Valley Tales.
'Test Valley Tales' is an Arts Council Funded project and one of Test Valley Arts Foundation's Borough of Culture Legacy Projects. All the stories are set in the beautiful landscape of Test Valley which is in Hampshire in England.
There is also an illustrated book of the all the stories which accompanies this podcast. This is available from my website. Please see link below.
Hope you enjoy it!
Story written by Amanda Kane-Smith, based on a traditional English folk tale.
Podcast produced by Miles Kane-Smith.
Music by Paul Sartin recorded at WildGoose Records in Wherwell.
Test Valley Tales can be found on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter as @testvalleytales.
For more information please go to:
Tuesday Sep 21, 2021
Tuesday Sep 21, 2021
In this episode I tell a historical tale full of deceit and murder based in Harewood Forest.
'Halfway along The Middleway, which lies between Picket Twenty and Longparish, there is a small wooden stile hidden in the hedge. Climb over this stile and walk across the sloping field. At the top you will find a path; that will take you into Deadman’s Plack Copse. Here, as legend has it, the Saxon King, Edgar killed his friend Ethelwold while hunting for deer. All for love of the beautiful Elfrida.
You’ll know you’ve found the spot because a grand monument has been built there.'
The Deadman's Plack is a well known local legend which I feel is ripe for a retelling from a different perspective. So I have written it from Elfrida's point of view!
Elfreda’s life is littered with stories of her devious and cutthroat exploits, but that could be more to do with the fact that she was an ambitious woman living in a time when women rarely held positions of such power.
I was so intrigued as to why the character of Elfrida was always painted in such a bad light, that I decided to dig a little deeper and as I did, I came across a wonderful book called ‘Elfrida: The First Crowned Queen of England’ written by Elizabeth Norton, so I was thrilled when Elizabeth agreed to be interviewed for this episode.
There is a great interview after the story in which Elizabeth tells me about Elfrida and how the role of women at that time may have skewed our view of her.
This is a great episode for anyone interested in early English history, the role of women in history, or school projects about medieval history.
The episode is accompanied with music by renowned folk musician Paul Sartin.
This story is part of Test Valley Tales.
'Test Valley Tales' is an Arts Council Funded project and one of Test Valley Arts Foundation's Borough of Culture Legacy Projects. All the stories are set in the beautiful landscape of Test Valley which is in Hampshire in England.
There is also an illustrated book of the all the stories which accompanies this podcast. This is available from my website. Please see link below.
Hope you enjoy it!
Story written by Amanda Kane-Smith, based on a traditional English folk tale.
Podcast produced by Miles Kane-Smith.
Music by Paul Sartin recorded at WildGoose Records in Wherwell.
Test Valley Tales can be found on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter as @testvalleytales.
For more information please go to:
Tuesday Sep 07, 2021
Tuesday Sep 07, 2021
In this episode I tell a story based in the beautiful village of Amport.
Based on an old English folk tale, 'The Baker's Daughter of Amport' tells the story of a baker’s daughter who pays a magical price for her lack of kindness.
It’s a little bit spooky this one, so if you are listening with very young children it may not be the best episode for bedtime!
Having said that, children do love a spooky tale!
Versions of this tale date back to before Shakespearean times and is referenced by Shakespeare in Hamlet (Act 4 Scene 5) when Ophelia says:
"……….They say the owl was a
baker's daughter. Lord! we know what we are, but
know not what we may be"
So also a great listen for anyone studying or interested in Shakespeare.
After the story I interview Tom Morath, from The Hawk Conservancy Trust which is also based in Amport. Tom tells me some fascinating facts about owls. There is also a surprise guest - Troy the Tawny owl who is also extremely chatty!!
The episode is accompanied by music from renowned folk musician Paul Sartin and Hampshire Country Dance Tunes from the Pyle family manuscript of 1822.
This story is part of Test Valley Tales.
'Test Valley Tales' is an Arts Council Funded project and one of Test Valley Arts Foundation's Borough of Culture Legacy Projects. All the stories are set in the beautiful landscape of Test Valley which is in Hampshire in England.
There is also an illustrated book of the all the stories which accompanies this podcast. This is available from my website. Please see link below.
Hope you enjoy it!
Story written by Amanda Kane-Smith, based on a traditional English folk tale.
Podcast produced by Miles Kane-Smith.
Music by Paul Sartin recorded at WildGoose Records in Wherwell.
Test Valley Tales can be found on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter as @testvalleytales.
For more information please go to:
www.merry-go-roundstorytelling.co.uk/testvalleytales
Monday Aug 30, 2021
Monday Aug 30, 2021
This is a brilliantly jolly tale with a great environmental message:
'Can we really own a piece of land? And if the land could speak, what would she have to say about it?'
When two farmers begin to fight over who owns a meadow, a small bog fairy has a very wise solution to solve their disagreement.
This story is part of Test Valley Tales.
'Test Valley Tales' is an Arts Council Funded project and one of Test Valley Arts Foundation's Borough of Culture Legacy Projects. All the stories are set in the beautiful landscape of Test Valley which is in Hampshire in England.
There is also an illustrated book of the all the stories which accompanies this podcast. This is available from my website. Please see link below.
After the story I interview the Wendy Davis the inspiration behind Harmony Woods where the story is set. For more information, see Andover Trees United.
Accompanied by music from renowned folk musician Paul Sartin and Hampshire Country Dance Tunes from the Pyle family manuscript of 1822.
Hope you enjoy it!
Story written by Amanda Kane-Smith, based on a local legend.
Podcast produced by Miles Kane-Smith.
Music by Paul Sartin recorded at WildGoose Records.
Test Valley Tales can be found on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter as @testvalleytales.
For more information please go to:
www.merry-go-roundstorytelling.co.uk/testvalleytales
Monday Aug 23, 2021
Monday Aug 23, 2021
Hello, I'm Amanda.
In this episode I retell a local ghost legend from Vernham Dean in Test Valley, set in the time of the plague.
Legend says that the vicar, wracked with guilt, still haunts the old Roman road that leads to the top of Conholt Hill. But why is his ghost still there and what is his guilty secret?
This story is suitable for children aged 7+ (although probably not best listened to before bedtime). Adults will enjoy listening any time of the day!
After the story I interview the wonderful Jill Palmer, a local resident, about this and other stories from the area.
Accompanied by music from renowned folk musician Paul Sartin, this is a fascinating episode full of historical facts and local folklore.
Hope you enjoy it!
'Test Valley Tales' is an Arts Council Funded project and one of Test Valley Arts Foundation's Borough of Culture Legacy Projects. All the stories are set in the beautiful landscape of Test Valley which is in Hampshire in England.
There is also an illustrated book of the all the stories which accompanies this podcast. This is available from my website. Please see link below.
Story written by Amanda Kane-Smith, based on a local legend.
Podcast produced by Miles Kane-Smith.
Music by Paul Sartin recorded at WildGoose Records.
Test Valley Tales can be found on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter as @testvalleytales.
For more information please go to:
www.merry-go-roundstorytelling.co.uk/testvalleytales